Ben Shelton Rips 'Disrespectful' Media Treatment of Players at 2025 Australian Open

Ben Shelton used his post-match press conference after the Australian Open quarterfinals to call out the media for what he believes has been "disrespectful" conduct toward players.

Speaking to reporters after his victory over Lorenzo Sonego, Shelton admitted to feeling "shocked" by how broadcasters have acted and cited multiple instances that stood out to him:

"I've been a little bit shocked this week with how players have been treated by the broadcasters. I don't think that the guy who mocked Novak, I don't think that was just a single event. I've noticed it with different people, not just myself. I noticed it with Learner Tien in one of his matches. I think when he beat [Daniil] Medvedev, his postmatch interview, I thought it was kind of embarrassing and disrespectful, that interview. There are some comments that have been made to me in postmatch interviews by a couple of different guys, whether it was, 'Hey, [Gael] Monfils is old enough to be your dad. Maybe he is your dad."

The most notable example, which Shelton cited, involved Novak Djokovic and Australian broadcaster Tony Jones.

During an on-air broadcast amid a crowd of Djokovic fans who were chanting his name, Jones mocked him and the fans by chanting Djokovic is "overrated" and a "has-been."

Djokovic said after his fourth-round victory over Jiří Lehečka that he boycotted his on-court post-match interview in the wake of Jones' actions and the lack of apology from Channel 9.

Jones and the network issued apologies to Djokovic on Monday that were acknowledged.

"Novak acknowledges the apology has been given in public as requested," per a statement issued by Tennis Australia, "and is now moving on and focusing on his next match."

Shelton also referenced a situation after his win over Sonego in which the on-court interviewer said he would likely not have much support from the crowd if he were to face Alex De Minaur, who is from Australia (starts at :45 mark).

Even though Shelton seemed to laugh off the question in the moment, he said during his press conference he didn't think it was a "respectful" thing to say.

"I feel like broadcasters should be helping us grow our sport and help these athletes who just won matches on the biggest stage enjoy one of their biggest moments," Shelton said. "I feel like there's just been a lot of negativity. I think that's something that needs to change."

The situation posed by the interviewer with De Minaur wound up not playing out anyway since he lost in the quarterfinal to Jannik Sinner.

It's important to note the job of journalists isn't to pump up an athlete. Some of the situations Shelton mentioned do seem to cross a line, but it's not unreasonable to assume the Australian Open crowd would have been much more supportive of an Australian in the semifinal if that situation had played out.

Shelton is in the midst of one of the best runs of his career. This marks just his second time reaching the semifinal of a grand slam tournament. He previously did it at the 2023 U.S. Open when he lost to Djokovic.

The Shelton-Sinner semifinal match will be played on Thursday. Sinner is 4-1 in five previous head-to-head meetings between the two.